Basic driving rules in Japan

Please be awear of that Japanese traffic rules might be different from your country. Accurate knowledge about the traffic rules will help you to drive safety in Japan.

Driving on the left

Vehicles must stay on the left side of the road (or left of the center line when there is one).
Drivers should keep driving on the left even if the road has no lane markings, except when you overtake another vehicle or under unavoidable situations.

Prohibition of drunk driving

In order to prevent drunk driving, the penalties have been strengthened. Also, the penalties will be charged to persons on a car drived by a drunk driver.

≪Penalties for Drinking and Driving≫

■Drunk Driving (Driving in such a condition that normal driving may be impaired by alcohol)
⇒Imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding 1,000,000 yen, and 35 penalty points (15 points correspond to revocation of a driver's license in Japan.)
■Driving under the influence of alcohol.
（1）When a driver's breath alcohol content exceeds 0.25 mg/liter.
⇒Imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 500,000 yen, and 25 penalty points.
(2) When a driver's breath alcohol content is 0.15 mg/liter or more but not exceeding 0.25 mg/liter.
⇒Imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 500,000 yen, and 13 penalty points.
etc.

Traffic Regulations

≪Traffic lights≫

■Green light
⇒Vehicles may go straight or turn left or right.
■Yellow light
⇒Vehicles must not move farther than the stoppingpoint. However, if a vehicle is rapidly approaching the stopping point when the signal changes to yellow and cannot stop safety, it may continue to proceed.
■Red light
⇒Vehicles must not proceed past the stopping point.
■Green arrow light
⇒Vehicles may proceed to the direction indicated by the arrow even if the traffic light is yellow or red.